Overcalling their one-trump

If the opponents have opened one no-trump, any bid you make, apart from double, must be at the two level. This emphasizes the preemptive nature of the one no-trump opening.

We can place these situations into three categories:-

1. Hands with 12-14 points
2. Fourth in hand, non-vulnerable, with a five-card suit or longer
3. Hands with 15+ points

  (1) Hands with 12-14 points

 With hands of 12-14 points, we are entitled to compete but unless we are using a conventional bid (of which there are several, but none yet on my website--- Ripstra, Sharples, Astro, Aspro etc), you need a five-card suit. With this number of points and no five-card suit, you should defend ---which is no tragedy as very often you will defeat the contract.

  (2)  Fourth in hand

There is one circumstance when after an opening one no-trump by the opposition, you can waive the 12-14 requirement. This is when:-

1. You are fourth in hand
2. Your side is non-vulnerable
3. You have a five-card suit

The worst scenario for your side, given the above conditions, is that declarer has fourteen points and declarer's partner ten. This means that your side has at worst sixteen points and quite likely a bit more. You are unlikely to be doubled if you come in with your suit at the two-level, and even if you don't make it, you can certainly afford to go two light for one hundred.

   You may like to take a break at this point before you look at the second section on hands with fifteen points or more. I've given you several options.

• Continue with this topic
• Return to the top of this page
• Return to my home page
• Exit my website altogether in your usual fashion
• Explore this printing option if you wish to print out all or part of this page without the tedious heading or left-hand green strip